Have you ever noticed when someone mentions developing our KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) that knowledge is the foundation upon which skills and abilities are built?

We have all studied training manuals in the fire service. God has a “training manual” that has all of the knowledge that we seek and most of us own at least one of these manuals. It is God’s word, better known as the Bible, that should be the foundation to build all of our knowledge, skills, and abilities upon. As firefighters we commit ourselves to life of study and constant learning in pursuit of our calling. It is a priority for us. How much more so should we commit ourselves and make getting to know the God who created us a priority?

God’s training manual can be a daunting book for anyone to read for the first time. Here are 5 tips to help anyone who wants to study God’s “training manual.”

#1 – Choose A Study Bible

There are numerous study Bibles and the choices can be confusing.

Start by determining your interests. Are you looking for answers? Then the Apologetics Study Bible may be for you. Are you interested in history? Then the Archaeological or Chronological Study Bible may be for you. Are you searching for how to apply God’s word to your life? Then the Life Application Study Bible may interest you. For example, I am always interested in answers to tough questions and application in my own life, thus my two favorites are the Apologetics Study Bible and the Life Application Study Bible. (Apologetics means answers, in the sense of a defense of a belief.)

Study Bibles come in many translations and paraphrases. Take a trip to the local book store and browse the following versions:

New International Version (NIV)

New American Standard (NASB)

The Message

The Good News Bible

The Common English Bible

The Holman Christian Standard Bible

There are numerous translations but you may find these translations easier to read than some of the others. In addition, there are many useful Bible apps that are available for free on any smart phone.

#2 – Commit To A Schedule

Set aside a time each day to read and be committed to your schedule. This should be somewhere quiet with no distractions where you can focus on the material before you.

#3 – Commit To A Reading Plan

There are many reading plans available. Base your decision on your time committed to reading each day. For example, a 15 minute scheduled time of study could consist of one chapter, reading the study notes, and making your own notes in a journal.

The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. A great place to start reading is in the New Testament. The book of John is the fourth book of the New Testament and is a great place to start.

This is an example of a study plan from the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International.

#4 – Take Notes

Take notes in a journal as you read.

As firefighters, we all know the value of good notetaking. It helps us to refresh our minds with a quick review of our notes. It’s good to find a journal approximately the same size as your Bible and keep them together; this makes it easier to carry and less likely to be lost.

Each day that is committed to study can be documented; you would record your thoughts and any moments of inspiration that may occur. This is the Station Log for our life.

#5 – Ask For Help

As we began our fire service journey we trusted in others to guide us. This is where we increase our faith by trusting another to lead us in the right direction. To increase our faith we must be willing to step out in faith. This means to step outside of our comfort zone. Firefighters step out of their comfort zones on a daily basis and this requires a moral courage to do so. Seek out a trusted mentor who studies the Bible and ask for his guidance. If you need assistance in this area, email us and we will provide assistance.

In the next article we will discuss the second way to build our faith as firefighters: Communication. Until then, take some time to explore the many Bibles that are available. Take a few moments and begin reading God’s word. And have faith!

About the Author

Andy is 2nd generation firefighter and a Career Captain with over 24 years of experience in the fire service. He is passionate about teaching, encouraging and supporting up and coming firefighters with biblically principled messages on where to draw our strength from and why living a God centered life is extremely rewarding. Andy believes to be a great firefighter & leader, we need to be more than one dimensional. Andy is a Level II instructor with an associates degree of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology. He is very knowledgeable on modern fire behavior and also serves as a member of Kill the Flashover Project and the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.